CN116888781A - Fuel cell module and fuel cell device - Google Patents
Fuel cell module and fuel cell device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CN116888781A CN116888781A CN202280017031.0A CN202280017031A CN116888781A CN 116888781 A CN116888781 A CN 116888781A CN 202280017031 A CN202280017031 A CN 202280017031A CN 116888781 A CN116888781 A CN 116888781A
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- China
- Prior art keywords
- fuel cell
- oxidant gas
- flow passage
- cell module
- exhaust gas
- Prior art date
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- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 319
- 239000007800 oxidant agent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 371
- 230000001590 oxidative effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 350
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 113
- 238000005304 joining Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000003054 catalyst Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000012774 insulation material Substances 0.000 claims 3
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 561
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 26
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 24
- 239000006200 vaporizer Substances 0.000 description 19
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 10
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 10
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 9
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 8
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 8
- 239000002737 fuel gas Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 description 4
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000002407 reforming Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000000567 combustion gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003487 electrochemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000017525 heat dissipation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000003779 heat-resistant material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008016 vaporization Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002912 waste gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004215 Carbon black (E152) Substances 0.000 description 1
- UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon monoxide Chemical compound [O+]#[C-] UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910002091 carbon monoxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013021 overheating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010248 power generation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000629 steam reforming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
- H01M8/2465—Details of groupings of fuel cells
- H01M8/2483—Details of groupings of fuel cells characterised by internal manifolds
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M8/0258—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors characterised by the configuration of channels, e.g. by the flow field of the reactant or coolant
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M8/0267—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors having heating or cooling means, e.g. heaters or coolant flow channels
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
- H01M8/04007—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids related to heat exchange
- H01M8/04067—Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
- H01M8/0662—Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
- H01M8/2465—Details of groupings of fuel cells
- H01M8/247—Arrangements for tightening a stack, for accommodation of a stack in a tank or for assembling different tanks
- H01M8/2475—Enclosures, casings or containers of fuel cell stacks
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
- H01M8/12—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
- H01M2008/1293—Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/24—Grouping of fuel cells, e.g. stacking of fuel cells
- H01M8/2465—Details of groupings of fuel cells
- H01M8/2484—Details of groupings of fuel cells characterised by external manifolds
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Sustainable Energy (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Electrochemistry (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Fuel Cell (AREA)
Abstract
A fuel cell module 10 has a fuel cell stack 12, an oxidant gas supply plate 11, a first exhaust gas flow passage 14, a first heat insulating material 13, and a second heat insulating material 17. The oxidant gas supply plate 11 causes a flow of the oxidant supplied to the fuel cell stack 12. The first exhaust flow channel 14 flows exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 therethrough. The fuel cell stack 12, the oxidant gas supply plate 11, and the first exhaust gas flow channel 14 are arranged in this order in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The first insulating material 13 is positioned adjacent to the first exhaust flow passage 14 in the normal direction. The second insulating material 17 is positioned further outward in the normal direction than the first insulating material.
Description
Cross Reference to Related Applications
The present application claims priority from japanese patent application No.2021-029224 filed 25 at 2 months of 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a fuel cell module and a fuel cell device.
Background
A fuel cell module for supplying an oxidizer gas to a fuel cell stack is known, which includes a plate-like member having a hollow portion inside (see patent document 1).
CITATION LIST
Patent literature
Patent document 1: international publication No.2017/221790.
Disclosure of Invention
The fuel cell module according to the first aspect includes:
a fuel cell stack;
an oxidant gas supply plate having an inner space for flowing an oxidant supplied to the fuel cell stack, and a main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate facing the fuel cell stack;
a first exhaust flow passage through which exhaust discharged from the fuel cell stack flows; and
a first insulating material and a second insulating material.
The fuel cell stack, the oxidant gas supply plate, and the first exhaust gas flow passage are located in this order in a normal direction to the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate.
In the normal direction, the first insulating material is adjacent to the first exhaust flow passage, and the second insulating material is located outside the first insulating material.
The fuel cell apparatus according to the second aspect includes:
a fuel cell module is provided with: a fuel cell stack; an oxidant gas supply plate having an inner space for flowing an oxidant supplied to the fuel cell stack, and a main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate facing the fuel cell stack; a first exhaust gas flow passage through which exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack flows; and a first heat insulating material and a second heat insulating material, wherein the fuel cell stack, the oxidant gas supply plate, and the first exhaust gas flow channel are located in this order in a normal direction to the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate, and in the normal direction, the first heat insulating material is adjacent to the first exhaust gas flow channel, and the second heat insulating material is located outside the first heat insulating material.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a fuel cell module according to a first embodiment taken in a vertical direction.
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the oxidant gas supply plate of fig. 1 taken along the traveling direction.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the oxidant gas supply plate of fig. 1 when viewed from the first plate portion.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the oxidant gas supply plate taken along line IV-IV of fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an exhaust passage plate in a modification of the fuel cell module shown in fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an oxidant gas supply plate joined to the exhaust gas passage plate of fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a front view of an oxidant gas supply plate joined to the exhaust gas passage plate of fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a front view of an oxidant gas supply plate in engagement with a variation of the exhaust gas channel plate of fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell module taken along line IX-IX of fig. 1.
Fig. 10 is a front view of a surface side of the second heat insulating material of fig. 1 on which a first groove is provided.
Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken in the vertical direction of a modification of the fuel cell module in fig. 1.
Fig. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing the shape of the oxidant gas flow passage portion in fig. 1.
Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the fuel cell module of the second embodiment taken in the vertical direction.
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the oxidant gas supply plate of fig. 13 when viewed from the second plate portion.
Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the oxidant gas supply plate of fig. 14.
Fig. 16 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the oxidizing gas supply plate of fig. 14 taken along a section perpendicular to the width direction and enlarged in the vicinity of the third protruding portion.
Fig. 17 is a front view of a modification of the oxidizing gas supply plate shown in fig. 14, as seen from the second plate portion.
Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell module taken along a section perpendicular to the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate, for illustrating the configuration of the exhaust gas leading-out portion formed in the fuel cell module of fig. 13.
Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell module taken along a section perpendicular to the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate, for illustrating the configuration of the first modification of the exhaust gas leading-out portion of fig. 18.
Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cell module taken along a section perpendicular to the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate, for illustrating the configuration of the second modification of the exhaust gas leading-out portion in fig. 18.
Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken in the vertical direction of a first modification of the fuel cell module of fig. 13.
Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken in the vertical direction of a second modification of the fuel cell module of fig. 13.
Fig. 23 is a perspective view showing the oxidant gas flow passage section of fig. 13, as well as the first exhaust gas flow passage section and the partition 520 defining the first exhaust gas flow passage in an exploded manner.
Fig. 24 is a front view of a first variation of the first exhaust flow channel portion of fig. 23.
Fig. 25 is a front view of a second variation of the first exhaust flow channel portion of fig. 23.
Fig. 26 is a front view of a modification of the oxidizing gas supply plate of fig. 1 when viewed from the second plate portion.
Detailed Description
Embodiments of a fuel cell module to which the present disclosure is applied are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the fuel cell apparatus including the fuel cell module may include a mechanism for adjusting the amounts of the fuel gas and the reformed water supplied to the fuel cell module, a mechanism for cooling the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell module, and the like. As shown in fig. 1, the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment includes an oxidant gas supply plate 11. The fuel cell module 10 may further include a fuel cell stack 12, opposing walls (first insulating material) 13, a first exhaust flow channel 14, a reformer 15, a vaporizer 16, a second insulating material 17, an oxidant gas flow channel section 18, and a housing 19.
In the fuel cell module 10, the oxidant gas can be supplied to the fuel cell stack 12 from outside the fuel cell module 10 through the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 and the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The fuel cell module 10 may also discharge the gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 from the fuel cell module 10 via the first exhaust flow passage 14 and a second exhaust flow passage that will be described later.
The fuel cell apparatus including the fuel cell module 10 has a predetermined posture with respect to the ground when mounted. In this specification, a direction in which the fuel cell module 10 in the fuel cell apparatus is vertically upward in a predetermined posture with respect to the ground is referred to as an upward direction (first direction). In this specification, a direction in which the fuel cell module 10 in the fuel cell apparatus is vertically downward in a predetermined posture with respect to the ground is referred to as a downward direction.
The oxidant gas supply plate 11 may have a plate-like shape as a whole. More specifically, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 may have a rectangular plate-like shape as a whole. As shown in fig. 2, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 may have an internal space IS that allows the oxidant flow to be supplied to the fuel cell stack 12. More specifically, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 may have a first plate portion 20 and a second plate portion 21 facing each other. The oxidant gas supply plate 11 may be formed by joining the outer circumferences of the first plate portion 20 and the second plate portion 21 with a gap therebetween.
Since the oxidizer gas supply plate 11 is exposed to high temperature, it may be formed of a heat resistant material such as metal.
In this specification, directions parallel to the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 and perpendicular to each other are referred to as a traveling direction and a width direction. In this specification, a major surface is a surface of a sheet that is much larger in area than other surfaces. As described later, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 is arranged in the fuel cell module 10 such that the traveling direction is parallel to the direction in which the exhaust gas travels. The travel direction and the width direction may be parallel to the sides of the rectangular main surface.
As shown in fig. 3, the first plate portion 20 may have a supply plate inlet 22. The supply plate inlet 22 may be located near the center of the fuel cell stack 12 in the stacking direction of the cells within the fuel cell module 10. The supply plate inlet 22 may also be positioned closer to the direction of travel than the center in the direction of travel. The supply plate inlet 22 may also be located near the center in the width direction.
The second plate portion 21 may have a first protruding portion 35 protruding outward (or in other words, protruding to the side opposite to the first plate portion 20) at a position opposite to the supply plate inlet 22. The first protruding portion 35 may be recessed to a side opposite to the first plate portion 20. The second plate portion 21 may have a supply plate outlet 23. The supply plate outlet 23 may be disposed in a lower end portion of the side wall opposite the fuel cell stack 12. A plurality of supply plate outlets 23 may be provided at intervals in the direction in which the cells are arranged.
The oxidant gas supply plate 11 may be configured such that the oxidant gas may flow in from the supply plate inlet 22, flow in one direction inside, and then return and flow out from the supply plate outlet 23. More specifically, as shown in fig. 4, the partition portion 24 provided in the oxidizing gas supply plate 11 may allow the oxidizing gas to flow in one direction and then return. The aforementioned one direction may be, for example, a direction opposite to the traveling direction when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11, in other words, a direction from the supply plate outlet 23 to the supply plate inlet 22. Accordingly, the flow of the oxidant gas entering from the supply plate inlet 22 becomes a countercurrent flow to the exhaust gas flow in the first exhaust gas flow passage 14, which will be described later, until returning.
The partition portion 24 may be substantially linearly symmetrical with respect to a straight line connecting the supply plate inlet 22 and the supply plate outlet 23 when viewed from a normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The partition portion 24 may have a portion extending from the supply plate outlet 23 side to the supply plate inlet 22 side on both sides of a line segment connecting the supply plate inlet 22 and the supply plate outlet 23, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. More specifically, the partition portion 24 may be U-shaped, opening on the supply plate inlet 22 side.
The isolation portion 24 may be formed by any method. As shown in fig. 2, the isolation portion 24 may be formed, for example, by: the sheet material that becomes at least one of the first plate portion 20 and the second plate portion 21 is recessed in a portion where the spacer portion 24 is to be formed, and the first plate portion 20 and the second plate portion 21 are joined to each other. The spacer portion 24 may also be formed by joining members having the above-described shape to the first plate portion 20 and the second plate portion 21.
As shown in fig. 4, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 may have a heat insulating portion 25 between the supply plate inlet 22 and the supply plate outlet 23 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The heat insulating portion 25 may be, for example, a hole passing through a portion of the isolation portion 24.
As described later, the oxidizing gas supply plate 11 may have a protruding portion that protrudes in at least one of the following two ways: protruding from the first plate portion 20 toward the opposite wall (first insulating material) 13 side, and protruding from the second plate portion 21 toward the fuel cell stack 12 side. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, for example, the oxidizing gas supply plate 11 may have at least one first protruding portion 26 protruding from the first main surface on the outer surface side of the first plate portion 20.
As shown in fig. 3, the first protruding portion 26 may have a length in the traveling direction longer than a length thereof in the width direction. The first protruding portion 26 may extend in the traveling direction. The oxidant gas supply plate 11 may have three or more first protruding portions 26 aligned in the width direction. The lengths of the three or more first protruding portions 26 in the traveling direction may be longer as they extend outward in the width direction. The first protruding portion 26 may be located on the opposite side of the travel direction from the center of the first main surface in the travel direction.
The first protruding portion 26 may be formed, for example, by pressing a metal plate that becomes the first plate portion 20 into an outwardly concave shape. The first protruding portion 26 may also be formed by joining a protruding member to a metal plate that becomes the first plate portion 20.
The oxidant gas supply plate 11 may have a second protruding portion 27 protruding from the first main surface. The second protruding portion 27 may be at least higher from the first main surface than the first protruding portion 26. As described below, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 is arranged such that the first main surface faces the opposite wall 13, and the second protruding portion 27 may contact the opposite wall 13.
The length of the second protruding portion 27 in the width direction may be longer than the length in the traveling direction. At both ends of the portion of the separation portion 24 extending in the width direction, the length of the second protruding portion 27 in the width direction may be shorter than the distance between the two portions of the separation portion 24 extending in the direction opposite to the traveling direction. The second protruding portion 27 may be located between the first protruding portion 26 and the supply plate inlet 22 in the traveling direction. The second protruding portion 27 may be located at the center in the width direction. The second protruding portion 27 may extend in the width direction.
The second protruding portion 27 may also be formed by, for example, pressing a metal plate that becomes the first plate portion 20 into an outwardly concave shape. The second protruding portion 27 may be formed by joining a protruding member to a metal plate that becomes the first plate portion 20.
As shown in fig. 2, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 may have a flow regulating portion 28 between the first plate portion 20 and the second plate portion 21. The flow rate adjusting portion 28 may be located on the traveling direction side of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 as compared to the second protruding portion 27 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The flow regulating portion 28 may be located on the opposite side of the traveling direction as compared to the supply plate inlet 22 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
The flow rate adjusting portion 28 may adjust the flow rate of the oxidizing gas in the oxidizing gas supply plate 11. More specifically, the flow regulating portion 28 may restrict the flow rate of the oxidant gas flowing in the opposite traveling direction from the supply plate inlet 22. As shown in fig. 4, the flow rate adjusting portion 28 may restrict the flow rate of the oxidizer gas traveling in the opposite direction by the wall surface extending in the width direction. The length of the flow rate regulating portion 28 in the width direction may be the same as the length of the second protruding portion 27 in the width direction. A gap may be formed between the flow regulating portion 28 and the isolating portion 24 such that the oxidizer gas flows through the gap.
The flow regulating portion 28 may be formed by any method. As shown in fig. 2, the flow rate adjusting portion 28 may be formed, for example, by: the sheet material that becomes at least one of the first plate portion 20 and the second plate portion 21 is recessed in a portion where the flow rate regulating portion 28 is to be formed, and the first plate portion 20 and the second plate portion 21 are joined to each other. The flow rate regulating portion 28 may also be formed by joining members having the above-described shape to the first plate portion 20 and the second plate portion 21.
The oxidant gas supply plate 11 may have an extension 36 to be fixed in the housing 19. The extension portion 36 may be provided at an end of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 in the traveling direction. The extension portion 36 may have a portion extending in the traveling direction, and a portion bent from the foregoing portion and extending toward the side of the second plate portion 21 when viewed from the width direction. The extension portion 36 may be formed of a metal plate that becomes at least one of the first plate portion 20 and the second plate portion 21.
As shown in fig. 1, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 may be located in the housing 19 such that the traveling direction is a downward direction.
The oxidant gas may be supplied from the oxidant gas supply plate 11 to the fuel cell stack 12. Fuel gas may be supplied from the reformer 15 to the fuel cell stack 12. The fuel cell stack 12 may be erected on a manifold 37 that temporarily stores the fuel gas supplied from the reformer 15. The fuel cell stack 12 may include a plurality of stacked fuel cells. A hollow flat fuel cell having a gas passage passing through the inside thereof in the vertical direction may be used as the fuel cell. The fuel cell generates electricity by electrochemical reaction of the supplied oxidant gas and the fuel gas. The fuel cell stack 12 discharges the gas generated by the electrochemical reaction, as well as unreacted fuel gas and oxidant gas. Hereinafter, in this specification, the gas to be discharged is also referred to as exhaust gas.
The fuel cell stack 12 may be adjacent to the oxidant gas supply plate 11 within the housing 19. The fuel cell stack 12 may be arranged such that the side surfaces of the fuel cells face the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. More specifically, the fuel cell stack 12 may face the main surface of the second plate portion 21. The fuel cell stack 12 may be arranged such that the stacking direction of the fuel cells is parallel to the width direction of the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
The fuel cell stack 12 may have an exhaust gas outlet flush with the distal end of the internal space IS of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 or located on the upward direction side of the internal space IS of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 in the vertical direction. For example, the fuel cell stack 12 may have an exhaust outlet located on a top surface thereof within the fuel cell module 10. The top surface of the fuel cell stack 12 may be located at the same position in the vertical direction as the distal end of the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
The opposing wall 13 may be a member having a flat surface. The opposing wall 13 may be a flat plate member. The opposite wall 13 may be a heat insulating material (first heat insulating material). In the configuration in which the opposite wall 13 is a heat insulating material, the opposite wall 13 may be adjacent to the first exhaust gas flow passage in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
The opposing wall 13 may be formed of metal. As shown in fig. 5, the opposite wall 13 may be included in an exhaust passage plate 38 to be described later. The opposite wall 13 may be located within the housing 19 to face the first main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 with a gap therebetween. The opposing wall 13 may be positioned such that its flat surface is parallel to the first plate portion 20.
The exhaust passage plate 38 may have a flat plate portion 39, a side wall portion 40, and a flange portion 41. The flat plate portion 39 may serve as the opposite wall 13. The flat plate portion 39 may be rectangular. The side wall portion 40 may be provided on all outer edges of the flat plate portion 39 except a few outer edges. For example, the side wall portion 40 may be provided on all sides except one of the four sides of the rectangular flat plate portion 39. The sidewall portions 40 may be perpendicular to the flat plate portion 39 at the same height. The flange portion 41 may be provided on the side wall portion 40. The flange portion 41 may be flange-shaped.
The first exhaust flow channel 14 may be defined by a first major surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 and the opposing wall 13. Accordingly, in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11, the fuel cell stack 12, the oxidant gas supply plate 11, and the first exhaust gas flow channel 14 can be positioned in this order. Furthermore, in the aforementioned normal direction, the opposite wall 13 as the first heat insulating material may be positioned further outward from the first exhaust flow passage 14. The first exhaust flow channel 14 may be a portion of the total flow channel of exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust gas outlet of the fuel cell stack 12 and flowing to the exhaust gas outlet of the housing 19.
As described above, in the configuration in which the flat plate portion 39 of the off-gas passage plate 38 is used as the opposite wall 13, the flange portion 41 of the off-gas passage plate 38 may be joined to the first main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11, as shown in fig. 6. With this configuration, the flat plate portion 39 can be positioned to face the first main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 with a gap therebetween. Thus, since the flat plate portion 39 can serve as the opposing wall 13, it can define the first exhaust gas flow passage 14 together with the first main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
The off-gas passage plate 38 may be positioned such that the outer edges where the side wall portion 40 and the flange portion 41 are not provided face the opposite direction of the traveling direction of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. In this arrangement, the exhaust passage plate 38 may also be joined to the first main surface in the end portion in the traveling direction. The space between the oxidant gas supply plate 11 and the off-gas passage plate 38 may be open on the opposite side of the traveling direction. Therefore, the end of the exhaust gas passage plate 38 on the side opposite to the traveling direction can be used as an exhaust gas flow inlet.
In the above arrangement with respect to the oxidant gas supply plate 11, as shown in fig. 7, the flat plate portion 39 may extend outward in the width direction from the region where the first protruding portion 26 is located, when viewed from the normal direction of the first main surface. Since the flange portion 41 is provided at the outer edge of the flat plate portion 39 via the side wall portion 40, the exhaust gas passage plate 38 can be joined to the first main surface in the width direction outside the area of the first protruding portion 26. In addition, in this arrangement, the flat plate portion 39 may extend in the traveling direction from a region where at least one of the first protruding portion 26, the second protruding portion 27, the flow rate adjusting portion 28, and the supply plate inlet 22 is located, when viewed from the normal direction of the first main surface. Accordingly, the exhaust passage plate 38 may be joined to the first main surface outside the area where at least one of the first protruding portion 26, the second protruding portion 27, the flow regulating portion 28, and the supply plate inlet 22 is located.
In the above-described arrangement with respect to the oxidant gas supply plate 11, when the traveling direction is vertically downward within the housing 19, the exhaust gas passage plate 38 may extend in the same direction as the distal end of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 or in a direction opposite to the traveling direction (in other words, upward direction).
As shown in fig. 8, in the above-described arrangement with respect to the oxidizing gas supply plate 11, the flange portion 41 on the traveling direction side may also be extended to cover the hole-like heat insulating portion 25 so as to serve as a lid portion.
The flat plate portion 39 of the off-gas passage plate 38 may have a discharge hole 42 in a region facing the supply plate inlet 22, into which discharge hole 42 the oxidant gas passage portion 18 is to be inserted. The discharge hole 42 may be circular in shape or rectangular with rounded corners. The minimum diameter of the discharge hole 42 may be longer than the outer diameter of the oxidant gas flow passage section 18. Since the minimum diameter of the discharge hole 42 is longer than the outer diameter of the oxidant gas flow passage section 18, the exhaust gas flowing from the exhaust gas flow inlet into the first exhaust gas flow passage 14 can be discharged through the discharge hole 42.
The reformer 15 may carry a catalyst inside. The reformer 15 may use a catalyst to produce fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell stack 12 by a steam reforming reaction of raw fuel gas, such as city gas containing hydrocarbon gas. The reformer 15 may be located near the fuel cell stack 12 within the fuel cell module 10. More specifically, the reformer 15 may be located above the fuel cell stack 12 within the fuel cell module 10.
The vaporizer 16 may vaporize the supplied reforming water. The vaporizer 16 may supply vaporized water vapor to the reformer 15. The vaporizer 16 may be located above the fuel cell stacks 12 within the fuel cell module 10. As shown in fig. 9, the vaporizer 16 may be located outside the reformer 15 in the second direction. The second direction is a direction intersecting the first direction. More specifically, the vaporizer 16 may be located at a position different from the reformer 15, more specifically, at a position different from the reformer 15 in the width direction, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
The reforming part having the same function as the reformer 15 and the vaporizing part having the same function as the vaporizer 16 may be integrated to form an integrated reformer 15. In this configuration, the vaporizing portion may be located outside the reforming portion in the second direction.
As shown in fig. 1, the second heat insulating material 17 may be located outside the opposing wall body (first heat insulating material) 13 in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. Specifically, in the fuel cell module 10 shown in fig. 1, the second heat insulating material 17 may be located on the opposite side of the opposite wall 13 from the first exhaust flow passage 14. The second heat insulating material 17 may have a plate shape. The second insulating material 17 may be in surface contact with the opposite wall 13.
The second insulating material 17 may surround the oxidant gas flow passage section 18 together with the first insulating material. In the first embodiment, the oxidizer gas flow channel portion 18 may be buried in the second heat insulating material 17. The second heat insulating material 17 may have a first groove 29 formed to conform to the shape of the oxidant gas flow passage section 18. The second heat insulating material 17 may have the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 buried in the first groove 29. The thickness and depth of the first grooves 29 may be greater than the diameter of the oxidant gas flow passage section 18. The first insulating material 13, the first grooves 29, and the outer peripheral surface of the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 may define a second exhaust gas flow passage connected to the first exhaust gas flow passage 14 in a state where the first insulating material 13 is in close contact with the side surface of the second insulating material 17 provided with the first grooves 29. The second exhaust flow path allows exhaust flowing from the first exhaust flow path 14 to be discharged from the fuel cell module 10.
As shown in fig. 10, the second heat insulating material 17 may have a second groove 43 formed continuously with the first groove 29. The second grooves 43 may be formed in regions other than the regions in which the oxidant gas flow passage portions 18 are buried. As described above, the first insulating material 13 and the second groove 43 may define the third waste gas flow channel in a state where the first insulating material 13 is in close contact with the side surface of the second insulating material 17. The thickness and depth of the second grooves 43 may be the same as or different from the thickness and depth of the first grooves 29.
The second exhaust flow path may be connected to an exhaust treatment chamber 44 provided in the fuel cell module 10, for example, via a third exhaust flow path. The exhaust gas treatment chamber 44 may be provided, for example, on a surface of the second heat insulating material 17 opposite to the surface provided with the first groove 29, and connected to the third waste gas flow passage via the communication hole 45. A portion of the exhaust treatment chamber 44 may overlap a portion of the first groove 29 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the second heat insulating material 17. Between the aforementioned portion of the first recess 29 and the exhaust treatment chamber 44, the insulating material may be thinner than the other portions. The exhaust treatment chamber 44 may be filled with a combustion catalyst that combusts unreacted combustion gases in the exhaust.
The third groove 46 may be formed near the position where the first groove 29 and the second groove 43 are connected. The third groove 46 may be shaped to conform to the shape of the portion to be buried of the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18, which is located outside the first groove 29. The thickness and depth of the third grooves 46 may be the same as the diameter of the oxidant gas flow passage section 18.
As shown in fig. 11, in the configuration provided with the exhaust gas passage plate 38, the exhaust hole 42 may communicate to the second exhaust gas flow passage through the guide portion 47, the bottom of the guide portion 47 has the same shape as the exhaust hole 42, and the guide portion 47 is provided at the exhaust hole 42. The guide portion 47 may be cylindrical.
In the first embodiment, the oxidizer gas flow channel portion 18 is tubular. The oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 may be located outside the first exhaust gas flow passage 14 in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. In the first embodiment, the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 may be located outside the opposite wall 13, in other words, on the opposite side of the opposite wall 13 from the first exhaust gas flow passage 14. The oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 may be connected to the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
The oxidant gas flow passage section 18 may have a meandering shape. As shown in fig. 12, the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 may have a meandering shape when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 may have a first portion 48 overlapping the exhaust gas treatment chamber 44 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 may have a second portion 30 overlapping the reformer 15 and the vaporizer 16 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The second portion 30 may extend in the width direction within the fuel cell module 10. The inlet 31 of the oxidant gas flow passage section 18 may be located on the reformer 15 side as compared to the vaporizer 16 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 may have a third portion 32 overlapping the first protruding portion 26 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The third portion 32 may extend in the width direction within the fuel cell module 10. The oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 may have a fourth portion 33 overlapping the supply plate outlet 23 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The fourth portion 33 may be a portion of a duct extending in the width direction within the fuel cell module 10. The oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 may have a fifth portion extending on the lower side within the fuel cell module 10. The fifth portion may be the same as or different from the fourth portion.
As shown in fig. 1, the housing 19 may house the oxidant gas supply plate 11, the fuel cell stack 12, the opposite wall (first insulating material) 13, the reformer 15, the vaporizer 16, the second insulating material 17, and the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18. The housing 19 may be of any shape. The housing 19 has, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The housing 19 may be formed of any material.
Inside the housing 19, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 may be separated from the inner wall of the housing 19 on the upward direction (first direction) side. By being separated from the inner wall, the space on the fuel cell stack 12 side of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 can communicate with the space on the opposite side (in other words, the space serving as the first exhaust gas flow passage 14). For example, with this configuration, the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 can flow into the first main surface side of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 from the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
Within the housing 19, in the oxidant gas supply plate 11, a second plate portion 21 as a surface facing the fuel cell stack 12 and a first plate portion 20 as a surface on the opposite side of the fuel cell stack 12 may be directly or indirectly connected to the housing 19. In the first embodiment, the first plate portion 20 of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 is connected to the tubular oxidant gas flow passage portion 18, and the inlet 31 of the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 is connected to the housing 19. In the first embodiment, with this configuration, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 is indirectly connected to the housing 19.
Inside the housing 19, a third heat insulating material 34 may be provided around the inner space in which the oxidant gas supply plate 11, the fuel cell stack 12, the reformer 15, and the vaporizer 16 are provided, except for one side of the opposite wall 13.
As shown in fig. 1, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 may be fixed in the housing 19 by piercing the extension 36 of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 into the third heat insulating material 34.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment having the above-described configuration, the fuel cell stack 12, the oxidant gas supply plate 11, and the first exhaust gas flow channel 14 are located in this order in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11, the first heat insulating material 13 is adjacent to the first exhaust gas flow channel 14, and the second heat insulating material 17 is located outside the first heat insulating material 13 in the normal direction. With this configuration, in the fuel cell module 10, since the oxidant gas supply plate 11 is sandwiched between the fuel cell stack 12 and the first exhaust gas flow channel 14 (both of which have high temperatures during power generation), the oxidant gas can be heated just before it is supplied to the fuel cell stack 12. In addition, with this configuration, since the exhaust gas flows through the first exhaust gas flow passage 14 before being cooled by the other medium, the fuel cell module 10 can further heat the oxidizer gas, for example, as compared with a configuration in which the heat insulating material 13 is not adjacent to the first exhaust gas flow passage 14. In addition, with this configuration, since the first heat insulating material 13 is adjacent to the first exhaust flow passage 14, the fuel cell module 10 can suppress heat dissipation of the exhaust gas. Therefore, the fuel cell module 10 can suppress a decrease in the amount of heat exchanged between the off-gas and the oxidizer gas. In addition, since the fuel cell module 10 has the second heat insulating material 17 in addition to the first heat insulating material 13, the temperature of the space surrounded by the first heat insulating material 13 and the second heat insulating material 17 can also be maintained.
The fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment also has an oxidant gas flow passage portion 18, which oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 is located outside the first exhaust gas flow passage 14 in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11, and is connected to the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The oxidizer gas supplied to the fuel cell module 10 may be inhaled from the air, and thus has a low temperature close to the temperature of the air immediately after flowing into the fuel cell module 10. In this case, the fuel cell module 10 having the above-described configuration may have the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 in which the oxidant gas (which may have a low temperature close to the air temperature in the vicinity of the inlet) flows to the vicinity of the first exhaust gas flow passage 14 via the first insulating material 1. Accordingly, since the fuel cell module 10 avoids rapid cooling of the first exhaust gas flow passage 14, the oxidant gas in the oxidant gas supply plate 11 can be further heated.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 has a meandering shape. With this configuration, since the fuel cell module 10 can lengthen the path of the flow of the oxidant gas before the oxidant gas is supplied to the oxidant gas supply plate 11, it is possible to ensure heat exchange with a large area to heat the oxidant gas before the oxidant gas reaches the oxidant gas supply plate 11.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the groove 29 is formed in the second heat insulating material 17 to bury the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18, and the outer peripheral surface of the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 and the groove 29 define a second exhaust gas flow passage connected to the first exhaust gas flow passage 14. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can perform heat exchange between the oxidant gas flowing in the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 and the exhaust gas flowing in the second exhaust gas flow passage by a simple configuration, thereby heating the oxidant gas before the oxidant gas flows into the oxidant gas supply plate 11. In addition, since the second exhaust flow passage is defined by the second heat insulating material, the fuel cell module 10 can efficiently transfer heat from the exhaust gas flowing in the second exhaust flow passage to the oxidant gas flowing in the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18.
The fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment is also provided with an exhaust gas treatment chamber 44, the exhaust gas treatment chamber 44 being connected to the second exhaust gas flow passage and having a combustion catalyst that burns the exhaust gas passing through the second exhaust gas flow passage, and the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 having a first portion 48 overlapping the exhaust gas treatment chamber 44 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can efficiently transfer heat generated by combustion of unreacted combustion gas in the combustion exhaust gas treatment chamber 44 to the oxidant gas flowing in the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18.
The fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment is also provided with an exhaust gas passage plate 38, which exhaust gas passage plate 38 defines a flow passage of exhaust gas together with the oxidant gas supply plate 11. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can perform efficient heat exchange between the oxidant gas and the exhaust gas in the oxidant gas supply plate 11 without dispersing the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 to the surrounding environment. Thereby, the fuel cell module 10 can further heat the oxidizer gas.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the discharge hole 42 and the second exhaust gas flow passage communicate with each other through the guide portion 47. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can guide the exhaust gas discharged from the first exhaust gas flow passage 14 defined by the exhaust gas passage plate 38 to flow into the second exhaust gas flow passage.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the exhaust gas flow inlet of the exhaust gas passage plate 38 is located at a position flush with the oxidant gas supply plate 11 or on the opposite side of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 in the traveling direction. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can efficiently guide the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 to the first exhaust gas flow passage 14.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the off-gas passage plate 38 is joined to the first main surface in the width direction outside the area of the first protruding portion 26. With this configuration, since the region where the first protruding portion 26 is located is concentrated inside the first exhaust gas flow passage 14, the fuel cell module 10 can perform efficient heat exchange between the oxidant gas and the exhaust gas in the oxidant gas supply plate 11. Thereby, the fuel cell module 10 can further heat the oxidizer gas.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the off-gas passage plate 38 is joined to the first main surface outside the region of the first protruding portion 26 on the traveling direction side of the flow passage of the off-gas. With this configuration, since the area for heat exchange between the oxidant gas and the exhaust gas in the oxidant gas supply plate 11 is large, the fuel cell module 10 can perform efficient heat exchange between the oxidant gas and the exhaust gas. Thereby, the fuel cell module 10 can further heat the oxidizer gas.
The fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment is also provided with a cover portion that covers the hole-like heat insulating portion 25. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 10 prevents the oxidant gas flowing out from the supply plate outlet 23 from entering the first exhaust gas flow passage 14 through the hole-shaped heat insulating portion 25.
The fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment is further provided with an exhaust gas treatment chamber 44, and the second exhaust gas flow passage and the exhaust gas treatment chamber 44 are connected via a third exhaust gas flow passage. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can have an improved degree of freedom in design. For example, the fuel cell module 10 may be designed such that the distance between the connection position of the second exhaust gas flow channel and the third exhaust gas flow channel and the position of the inlet buried with the oxidant gas flow channel section 18 is reduced. Thus, in this example, in the fuel cell module 10, the oxidizer gas supplied from the oxidizer gas flow channel portion 18 immediately exchanges heat with the exhaust gas flowing in the second exhaust gas flow channel, so that the exhaust gas and the oxidizer gas flowing in the oxidizer gas flow channel portion 18 can efficiently transfer heat.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the second exhaust flow passage and the third exhaust flow passage have the same thickness and depth. With this configuration, since the walls from the second exhaust gas flow path to the third exhaust gas flow path are continuous, the fuel cell module 10 can uniformly flow the exhaust gas. In addition, with this configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can be manufactured in a compact manner and with reduced manufacturing costs.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the oxidant gas flow passage portion 18 has a fifth portion extending along the lower side in the fuel cell module 10. With this configuration, since the center of gravity of the oxidant gas flow passage section 18 is located on the lower side in the vertical direction, the fuel cell module 10 can be stabilized.
In the fuel cell module 10 of the first embodiment, the oxidant gas supply plate 11 has a first plate portion 20 and a second plate portion 21 positioned opposite to each other, the first plate portion 20 has a supply plate inlet 22, the second plate portion 21 has a supply plate outlet 23, and the supply plate inlet 22 is provided near the center of the fuel cell stack 12 in the stacking direction. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 10 can reduce the difference in temperature distribution in the stacking direction of the fuel cell stack 12.
In a second embodiment of the present disclosure, a fuel cell module will be described below. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the arrangement of the oxidant gas supply plate, the first exhaust gas flow passage, the second heat insulating material, the oxidant gas flow passage portion, and the like. The following is a description of the second embodiment focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. Note that components having the same functions and structures as those of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals.
As shown in fig. 13, the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment may include an oxidant gas supply plate 110, a fuel cell stack 12, a first insulating material 130, a first exhaust gas flow passage 140, a reformer 15, a gasifier 16, a second insulating material 170, an oxidant gas flow passage portion 180, and a housing 19, similarly to the first embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the fuel cell module 100 may further include an exhaust gas leading-out portion to be described later. The structure and function of the fuel cell stack 12, the reformer 15, the vaporizer 16, and the casing 19 are the same as those of the fuel cell stack 12, the reformer 15, the vaporizer 16, and the casing 19 in the first embodiment.
Similar to the first embodiment, in the fuel cell module 100, the oxidant gas may be supplied to the fuel cell stack 12 from outside the fuel cell module 100 via the oxidant gas flow passage portion 180 and the oxidant gas supply plate 110. The fuel cell module 100 may also exhaust gases exhausted by the fuel cell stack 12 from the fuel cell module 100 via the first exhaust flow channel 140.
As shown in fig. 14, the oxidant gas supply plate 110 may have a rectangular plate-like shape as a whole, similarly to the first embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, the oxidant gas supply plate 110 may have an internal space IS that allows the oxidant flow to be supplied to the fuel cell stack 12. More specifically, as shown in fig. 15 and 16, the oxidant gas supply plate 110 may have a first plate portion 200 and a second plate portion 210 facing each other, similar to the first embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, the oxidant gas supply plate 110 may be formed by joining the outer circumferences of the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210 with a gap therebetween.
Similar to the first embodiment, the oxidizer gas supply plate 110 may be formed of a heat resistant material such as metal.
As shown in fig. 15, the first plate portion 200 may have a supply plate inlet 220. The supply plate inlet 220 may be located near the center of the fuel cell stack 12 in the stacking direction of the cells within the fuel cell module 100. The supply plate inlet 220 may be provided in a portion of the fuel cell module 100 opposite to an upward direction side (first direction side) end of the fuel cell stack 12. Note that the upward direction side end portion includes a position from the upper end of the fuel cell stack 12 up to 1/3 of the length in the upward direction.
The second plate portion 210 may have a third protruding portion 350 recessed toward a side opposite to the first plate portion 200 at a position opposite to the supply plate inlet 220. As shown in fig. 16, at least a portion of the inner wall surface of the third protruding portion 350 around an axis parallel to the normal direction of the main surface of the second plate portion 210 may be inclined in the aforementioned normal direction to face the first plate portion 200. As shown in fig. 15, the second plate portion 210 may have a supply plate outlet 230, similar to the first embodiment.
The oxidant gas supply plate 110 may have at least one flow regulating portion 280 between the supply plate inlet 220 and the supply plate outlet 230, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 11. The flow regulating portion 280 may be provided on at least one of the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210. In one example, the flow regulating portion 280 is provided on both the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210 having the same shape and facing each other. The flow regulating portion 280 may be elevated from at least one of the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210 to the other plate portion.
The flow regulating portion 280 may include at least one first flow regulating portion 281 and at least one second flow regulating portion 282. The rising of the first flow rate adjusting portion 281 from at least one of the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210 to the other plate portion may be in contact with the other plate portion as described above. The second flow adjustment portion 282 may have a gap in a facing direction between the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210 while being raised from at least one of the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210 to the other plate portion. Since the second flow rate adjusting portion 282 is a part of the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210, in a configuration in which the second flow rate adjusting portion 282 is provided on both the first plate portion 200 and the second plate portion 210, there is a gap between the second flow rate adjusting portions 282 facing each other. In the following description, when matters common to the first flow rate adjusting portion 281 and the second flow rate adjusting portion 282 are described, they will be simply referred to as a flow rate adjusting portion 280.
The flow regulating portion 280 may be shaped to extend at least in a direction intersecting the direction from the supply plate inlet 220 to the supply plate outlet 23. At least some of the flow regulating portions 280 of the plurality of flow regulating portions 280 may be curved in a direction from the supply plate outlet 230 to the supply plate inlet 220 when viewed from a normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. For example, the first flow rate adjusting portion 281 near the supply plate inlet 220 may be curved in a direction from the supply plate outlet 230 to the supply plate inlet 220 when viewed from a normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. The plurality of flow regulating portions 280 may be positioned to be aligned in a direction from the supply plate inlet 220 to the supply plate outlet 230. The flow rate adjusting portions 280 adjacent to each other in the aforementioned direction may have portions that do not overlap each other in the width direction.
The flow regulating portion 280 may regulate the flow of the oxidant gas from the supply plate inlet 220 to the supply plate outlet 230 within the oxidant gas supply plate 110. The first flow rate adjusting portion 281 may adjust the flow rate of the oxidizer gas such that the oxidizer gas bypasses the first flow rate adjusting portion 281 in the flow of the oxidizer gas from the supply plate inlet 220 to the supply plate outlet 230. The second flow adjustment portions 282 may adjust the flow of the oxidant gas flowing from the supply plate inlet 220 to the supply plate outlet 230 such that the oxidant gas becomes a flow that flows through the gaps between the second flow adjustment portions 282 and a flow that bypasses the second flow adjustment portions 282. With this configuration, the flow regulating portion 280 can disperse the oxidizer gas in a plurality of directions parallel to the main surface of the second plate portion 210.
The second plate portion 210 may have a plurality of support portions 650. The plurality of support portions 650 may be positioned side by side in the width direction. The support portion 650 may support a heat insulating material sandwiched between the fuel cell stack 12 and the oxidant gas supply plate 110 in the fuel cell module 100. The support portion 650 may be a protruding portion that protrudes from the second plate portion 210 toward the fuel cell stack 12.
As shown in fig. 17, in the fuel cell module 100, the width w1 of the internal space IS of the oxidant gas supply plate 110 on the upward direction side may be larger than the width w2 of the internal space IS of the oxidant gas supply plate 110 on the downward direction side in the upward direction (first direction) and in the width direction perpendicular to the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. Further, the width w1 of the internal space IS on the upward direction side may be longer than the width of the opposing fuel cell stack 12. The width w2 of the internal space IS on the downward direction side may also be the same as the width of the opposing fuel cell stack 12.
As shown in fig. 13, the oxidant gas supply plate 110 may be located within the housing 19 such that the direction from the supply plate inlet 220 to the supply plate outlet 230 is a downward direction.
Similarly to the first embodiment, the fuel cell stack 12 may be supplied with the oxidant gas from the oxidant gas supply plate 110.
Similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell stack 12 may be adjacent to the oxidant gas supply plate 110 within the housing 19. Similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell stack 12 may be arranged such that the side surfaces of the fuel cells face the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. More specifically, similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell stack 12 may face the main surface of the second plate portion 210. Similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell stack 12 may be arranged such that the stacking direction of the fuel cells is parallel to the width direction of the oxidant gas supply plate 110.
Unlike the first embodiment, the fuel cell stack 12 may have an exhaust gas outlet on the downward direction side (the side opposite to the first direction) of the distal end of the internal space IS of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 in the vertical direction. For example, the top of the fuel cell stack 12 may be located at a different position from the distal end of the oxidant gas supply plate 11 on the downward direction side in the vertical direction.
Unlike the first embodiment, the first insulating material 130 may be located between the oxidant gas supply plate 110 and the first exhaust gas flow channel 140 in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. The first insulating material 130 may have a rectangular plate shape. The first insulating material 130 may be sized to cover the fuel cell stack 12, the oxidant gas supply plate 110, the reformer 15, and the vaporizer 16 within the fuel cell module 100.
The first insulating material 130, together with other insulating materials, may define an inner space that accommodates the oxidant gas supply plate 110, the fuel cell stack 12, the reformer 15, and the vaporizer 16. The exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 may be provided in the above-described inner space. The first insulating material 130 may be disposed in contact with the oxidant gas supply plate 110 and a first exhaust gas flow channel section 510, which will be described later. As shown in fig. 18, the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 may be, for example, a cutout portion formed by cutting out a portion of the first insulating material 130. The exhaust gas directing portion 490 is a path for directing exhaust gas to the first exhaust gas flow passage 140. In other words, the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 is an exhaust gas discharge port of the fuel cell stack 12.
In the exhaust gas flow discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 to the reformer 15 side, the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 may allow the exhaust gas to flow in a direction opposite to the second direction (in other words, in a direction from the vaporizer 16 side to the reformer 15 side). This function may be achieved, for example, by forming the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 in a direction opposite to the second direction on the upward direction side of the above-described internal space.
In the exhaust gas flow discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 toward the reformer 15 side, the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 may cause the exhaust gas to flow toward the center of the housing 19 in the second direction. For example, as shown in fig. 19, such a function may be achieved by forming an exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 near the center in the second direction in the inner space on the upward direction side.
As described above, the configuration in which the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 as the cutout is provided at the opposite side of the second direction or near the center in the second direction is described as an example, but the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 is not limited to being provided near the end in the opposite direction to the second direction or near the center in the second direction, but may be provided near the end on the side of the second direction or above the entire second direction.
Further, the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 may be formed by cutting out a part of the region including the supply plate inlet 220 in the fuel cell module 100 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. In other words, the cut-out region may be cut to a size such that there is a gap between the cut-out and the outer peripheral surface of the communication pipe 500 that communicates the supply plate inlet 220 and the oxidant gas flow passage section 180. Exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 may be prevented from flowing below the cutout by the first insulating material 130.
As shown in fig. 13, a communication pipe 500 that communicates the supply plate inlet 220 and the oxidant gas flow passage portion 180 may be inserted into the first insulating material 130 within the fuel cell module 100.
As shown in fig. 18, in a configuration in which the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 does not overlap with the supply plate inlet 220 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110, the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 may flow into the first exhaust gas flow channel 140 via the flow channel defined by the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490. As shown in fig. 19, in the configuration in which the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 overlaps the supply plate inlet 220 when viewed from the aforementioned normal direction, the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 flows into the first exhaust gas flow channel 140 via the flow channel defined by the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 and the outer peripheral surface of the communicating pipe 500.
As shown in fig. 20, in a configuration in which the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 overlaps the supply plate inlet 220 when viewed from the normal direction, the supply plate inlet 220 (or in other words, the communication pipe 500) may be offset from the center of the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 in the direction perpendicular to the upward direction (first direction) and the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. In a configuration in which the communication pipe 500 is offset from the center of the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490, the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 may extend from the center to the second direction or the opposite direction.
As shown in fig. 19 and 20, in a configuration in which the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 overlaps the supply plate inlet 220 when viewed from the normal direction, a cutout as the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 may pass through the first insulating material 130 in the thickness direction, as shown in fig. 21. As shown in fig. 22, the cutout may be a part of the oxidant gas supply plate 110 side in the thickness direction of the first insulating material 130, and does not pass through the first insulating material 130.
As shown in FIG. 23, in the second embodiment, the first exhaust flow channel 140 may be defined by a first exhaust flow channel portion 510 and a partition 520. In other words, the first exhaust flow channel portion 510 and the partition 520 may define a portion of the first exhaust flow channel 140. The first exhaust flow channel portion 510 may have a first groove portion 530 formed by recessing a portion of the flat plate into a path-like shape. The first exhaust flow channel portion 510 may be joined to one surface of the partition 520. More specifically, the spacer 520 may be engaged to cover the first groove portion 530.
The first exhaust flow channel portion 510 may be arranged such that the flat plate-like portion is parallel to the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. The first groove portion 530 may have a portion overlapping with a portion of the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 within the fuel cell module 100 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface. The first groove portion 530 may be shaped such that the aforementioned portion is one end of a path-like shape. The first groove portion 530 may include, for example, a U-shaped portion. The U-shaped portion may be open at the upward direction side, and both leg portions of the U-shaped portion may extend substantially parallel to each other in the upward direction. The communication hole 540 may be formed near the aforementioned portion of the first groove portion 530.
For example, as shown in fig. 18, in a configuration in which the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 is located in the direction opposite to the second direction, the communication hole 540 may be formed in the end of the leg of the U-shaped first groove portion 530 located in the direction opposite to the second direction, as shown in fig. 23.
As shown in fig. 19, in a configuration in which the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 is located near the center in the second direction, the communication hole 540 may be formed in a portion extending in the second direction from the leg of the U-shaped first groove portion 530 located in the direction opposite to the second direction, as shown in fig. 24. Further, in the foregoing configuration, the communication pipe 500 may be located within the communication hole 540 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. In other words, the communication pipe 500 may be inserted through the communication hole 540.
The communication hole 540 may be connected to the exhaust gas leading-out portion 490. By connecting the communication hole 540 and the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490, an internal space formed by joining the first exhaust gas flow channel portion 510 and the partition 520 (in other words, the first exhaust gas flow channel 140) can communicate with the flow channel defined by the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490. The first groove portion 530 may communicate at the other end with a drain portion 670 having a drain 550. The discharge port 550 may discharge exhaust gas from the fuel cell module 100.
In the portion of the first exhaust flow channel portion 510 that extends in the first direction, the width of the portion on the discharge port 550 side from which the exhaust gas is discharged from the fuel cell module 100 may be narrower than the width of the portion on the inlet side into which the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 flows, and more specifically, in the plurality of portions of the first exhaust flow channel 510 that extend in the first direction and are located at different positions in the direction intersecting the first direction (e.g., in the width direction), the width of the portion on the discharge port 550 side from which the exhaust gas is discharged from the fuel cell module 100 may be narrower than the width of the portion on the inlet side into which the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 flows. More specifically, in the U-shaped portion of the first groove portion 530 of the first exhaust flow passage portion 510, the width of the leg portion on the side of the discharge port 550 may be narrower than the width of the leg portion on the side of the communication hole 540. In addition, in the first exhaust flow passage portion 510, the width of the leg portion located at the side of the communication hole 540 may be narrower than the width of the portion located at the side of the discharge port 550. Further, the width of the portion connecting the two legs of the U-shaped portion of the first groove portion 530 may be narrower than the width of the leg on the communication hole 540 side and the width of the leg on the discharge port 550 side.
The portion (specifically, the leg portion) of the first exhaust gas flow passage portion 510 on the exhaust gas inflow side (communication hole 540 side) may be filled with the pretreatment material. The pretreatment material may adsorb Si contained in the exhaust gas when the exhaust gas flows in contact with the pretreatment material. The portion (specifically, the leg portion) of the first exhaust flow passage portion 510 on the side of the discharge port 550 may be filled with a combustion catalyst. The combustion catalyst may combust combustible gases contained in the exhaust gas, such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide. In the first exhaust flow passage portion 510, the combustion catalyst may be located on the second direction side within the fuel cell module 100.
The first exhaust flow channel portion 510 may have an oxidant gas introduction portion 560. The oxidant gas introduction portion 560 may be a pipe, or may be a groove shape obtained by recessing a flat plate of the first exhaust gas flow channel portion 510 in the same direction as the first groove portion 530. The oxidant gas introduction portion 560 may be coupled to the separator 520 to cover the grooves. When joined to the separator 520, the oxidant gas introduction portion 560 may not communicate with the first groove portion 530. The oxidant gas introduction portion 560 may communicate with an oxidant gas flow passage to be described later via a first through-hole 570 formed in the separator 520.
One end of the oxidant gas introduction portion 560 may serve as the oxidant gas introduction port 580. The oxidant gas introduction port 580 may introduce the oxidant gas to be supplied to the fuel cell stack 12 into the fuel cell module 100 via the oxidant gas flow channel. The oxidant gas introduction portion 560 may be located near the discharge port 550. The oxidant gas introduction section 560 may be separated from the first exhaust flow channel section 510. In a configuration in which the oxidant gas introduction portion 560 is separated from the first exhaust gas flow channel portion 510, the oxidant gas introduction portion 560 may be located on the surface of the separator 520 that is joined with the first exhaust gas flow channel portion 510.
The oxidant gas introduction port 580 may be located on the upward direction (first direction) side away from the discharge port 550 within the fuel cell module 100.
As shown in fig. 25, the first exhaust flow passage portion 510 may have an extension portion 590 that branches near the discharge port 550 and extends toward near the oxidant gas introduction portion 560. More specifically, the extension portion 590 diverges from the first groove portion 530. Similar to the first groove portion 530, the extension portion 590 may be groove-shaped. The recess in the extension 590 may be in communication with the first recess portion 530.
As shown in fig. 13, the second heat insulating material 170 is located outside the first heat insulating material 130 in the normal direction of the oxidant gas supply plate 110, similarly to the first embodiment. In other words, the second insulating material 170 may be positioned farther from the oxidant gas supply plate 110 than the first insulating material 130. The second heat insulating material 170 may be positioned circumferentially around the first exhaust gas flow channel 140 and the oxidant gas flow channel section 18 with a straight line parallel to the normal line of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110 as an axis. The second heat insulating material 170 may have a frame-like shape having a rectangular hollow inside, and may be configured by combining a plurality of heat insulating materials. The second insulating material 170 may be arranged such that an end surface in the axial direction makes surface contact with the main surface of the first insulating material 130.
The oxidant gas flow channel section 180 may be joined to the other side of the separator 520 that is joined to the first exhaust gas flow channel section 510. The oxidant gas flow passage portion 180 may be positioned to overlap the first exhaust gas flow passage portion 510 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the separator 520. The oxidant gas flow channels may be defined by joining the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 to the separator 520. More specifically, the oxidant gas flow passage may be defined by joining the oxidant gas flow passage portion 180 to the separator 520 so as to cover the second groove portion 600, which second groove portion 600 is obtained by recessing a portion of the flat plate into a path-like shape. The recess depth of the second groove portion 600 may be shallower than the recess depth of the first groove portion 530.
The oxidant gas flow passage portion 180 may be arranged such that the flat plate portion is parallel to the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. A portion of the oxidant gas flow passage portion 180 may overlap the entire region of the first exhaust gas flow passage portion 510 within the fuel cell module 100 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the separator 520. More specifically, a portion of the second groove portion 600 may overlap the entire area of the first groove portion 530 when viewed from the aforementioned normal direction. The oxidant gas flow passage portion 180 may overlap with the extension portion 590 when viewed from the aforementioned normal direction.
The second groove portion 600 may have a portion overlapping with the entire supply plate inlet 220 in the fuel cell module 100 when viewed from the normal direction of the foregoing main surface. The second groove portion 600 may be formed such that the aforementioned portion is one end of a path-like shape. The aforementioned portion may communicate with the internal space IS of the oxidant gas supply plate 110 via the communicating pipe 500 and the supply plate inlet 220. The second groove portion 600 may have a portion overlapping with the oxidant gas introduction portion 560 at the other end of the path-like shape within the fuel cell module 100. The aforementioned portion may communicate with the space defined by the oxidant gas introduction portion 560 via the first through-hole 570. The second groove portion 600 may include, for example, a U-shaped portion.
The partition 520 may have a second through-hole 610 through which the communication pipe 500 passes.
The spacer 520 may have a cutout 620. In the fuel cell module 100, the cutout 620 may be located at least partially in an area other than an area where it overlaps with the first exhaust gas flow channel 140 and the second groove portion 600 defining the oxidant gas flow channel, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the separator 520. More specifically, the cutout 620 may be at least partially located in an area other than an area where it overlaps the first groove portion 530 and the second groove portion 600 when viewed from the aforementioned normal direction. The cutout 620 may also be disposed in a U-shaped central portion of the first exhaust flow passage 140, and more particularly, in a central portion of the first groove portion 530, along the first exhaust flow passage 140. The cutout 620 may be disposed around the first exhaust flow channel 140 and the second groove portion 600 defining the oxidant gas flow channel.
The separator 520 may have a protruding portion 630 protruding into the first groove portion 530 within the fuel cell module 100 in a region overlapping both the first groove portion 530 and the second groove portion 600 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the separator 520. With this configuration, the heat exchange efficiency between the first exhaust gas flow passage portion 510 and the oxidant gas flow passage portion 180 can be improved.
Similar to the first embodiment, inside the housing 19, the third heat insulating material 340 may be provided around the internal space in which the oxidant gas supply plate 110, the fuel cell stack 12, the reformer 15, and the vaporizer 16 are provided, except for the portion in which the first heat insulating material 130 is provided.
The third heat insulating material 340 may have portions that extend in the upward direction (first direction) on opposite sides of the oxidant gas supply plate 110 of the fuel cell stack 12. In the foregoing portion, the concave portion 640 may be formed in the vicinity of the position of the reformer 15 in the upward direction when viewed from the fuel cell stack 12 side. A gap may be provided between the concave portion 640 and the reformer 15.
Similar to the first embodiment, in the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment having the above-described configuration, the fuel cell stack 12, the oxidant gas supply plate 110, and the first exhaust gas flow channel 140 are located in this order in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110, the first heat insulating material 130 is adjacent to the first exhaust gas flow channel 140, and the second heat insulating material 170 is located outside the first heat insulating material 130 in the normal direction. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell module 100 can also heat the oxidant gas before the oxidant gas is supplied to the fuel cell stack 12. In addition, similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell module 100 can also reduce the reduction in heat exchanged between the off-gas and the oxidizer gas. Further, since the fuel cell module 100 has the second heat insulating material 170 in addition to the first heat insulating material 130, the temperature of the space surrounded by the first heat insulating material 130 and the second heat insulating material 170 can also be maintained.
Similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment further has an oxidant gas flow passage portion 180 that is located outside the first exhaust gas flow passage 140 in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110 and is connected to the oxidant gas supply plate 110. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell module 100 can also further heat the oxidizer gas in the oxidizer gas supply plate 11.
Similar to the first embodiment, in the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the oxidant gas supply plate 110 has a first plate portion 200 and a second plate portion 210 positioned opposite to each other, the first plate portion 200 has a supply plate inlet 220, the second plate portion 210 has a supply plate outlet 230, and the supply plate inlet 220 is disposed near the center of the fuel cell stack 12 in the stacking direction. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, the fuel cell module 10 can also reduce the difference in temperature distribution in the stacking direction of the fuel cell stack 12.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the supply plate inlet 220 is provided in a portion of the first plate portion 200 opposite to the end of the fuel cell stack 12 on the first direction side. In the fuel cell stack 12, the upward direction side tends to be hotter than the downward direction side. For this case, the fuel cell module 100 having the above-described configuration can face the end portion of the fuel cell stack 12 located on the upward direction side by the oxidant gas introduced into the oxidant gas supply plate 110 with the relatively lower temperature portion of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. Accordingly, the fuel cell module 100 can reduce the temperature variation of the fuel cell stack 12 in the first direction.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the first insulating material 130 is located between the oxidant gas supply plate 110 and the first exhaust gas flow channel 140 in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can suppress heat dissipation of the oxidant gas supply plate 110.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 may flow into the first exhaust gas flow channel 140 through the flow channel defined by the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 formed in the first insulating material 130 and the communication pipe 500 that communicates the supply plate inlet 220 and the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can enable the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 to flow around the communication pipe 500, the communication pipe 500 supplying the oxidant gas to the oxidant gas supply plate 110. Accordingly, the fuel cell module 100 can heat the oxidant gas in the crossover tube 500.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 is a notched portion obtained by cutting out a portion of the first insulating material 170. With this configuration, in the fuel cell module 100, the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 can be easily provided by cutting out only a part of the first insulating material 130. In the fuel cell module 100, the first insulating material 130 is disposed in contact with the first exhaust flow channel portion 510 and the oxidant gas supply plate 110. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can prevent the exhaust gas from flowing below the cut-out first insulating material 130, so that the exhaust gas effectively flows to the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the communication pipe 500 is offset from the center of the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. With this configuration, in the flow passage in which the exhaust gas flows, since the portion on the side opposite to the direction in which the communication pipe 500 is deviated is wider, the fuel cell module 100 can reduce the pressure drop of the exhaust gas.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, in the configuration in which the communication pipe 500 is offset from the center of the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490, the exhaust gas lead-out portion 490 extends and is located on the opposite side in the second direction. With this configuration, in the fuel cell module 100, the vaporizer 16 suppresses cooling of the cooled off-gas so that the hotter off-gas can be used for heat exchange with the oxidizer gas.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the oxidant gas flow channels are defined by joining the first exhaust gas flow channel portion 510 (defining a portion of the first exhaust gas flow channel 140) to one surface of the separator and joining the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 to the other surface of the separator 520 such that the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 overlaps the first exhaust gas flow channel portion 510 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the separator 520. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can be easily configured in a configuration in which the first exhaust gas flow passage 140 and the oxidizer gas flow passage are adjacent to each other to allow the exhaust gas and the oxidizer gas to perform heat exchange.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the depth of the grooves defining the second groove portion 600 of the oxidant gas flow passage is shallower than the depth of the grooves defining the first groove portion 530 of the first exhaust gas flow passage 140. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can provide space for accommodating the pretreatment material and the combustion catalyst in the first exhaust flow channel 140.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the oxidant gas introduction portion 560 is provided on the surface of the separator 520 that is joined to the first exhaust gas flow channel portion 510, and the oxidant gas introduction portion 560 communicates with the oxidant gas flow channels via the through holes 570 of the separator 520. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 100 does not need to form a pipe on the oxidant gas flow passage portion 180 side, and therefore the step difference of the second groove portion 600 can be reduced. Accordingly, the fuel cell module 100 can promote the treatment of the heat insulating material provided outside the oxidant gas flow passage portion 180 in the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110, and can reduce the manufacturing cost.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the width of the portion on the discharge port 550 side from which the exhaust gas is discharged from the fuel cell module 100 is narrower than the width of the portion on the inlet side into which the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 flows, among the portions of the first exhaust gas flow path portion 510 extending in the first direction. In the first exhaust flow passage 140, the fuel cell stack 12 side may be filled with a pretreatment material, and the discharge port 550 side may be filled with a combustion catalyst. The exhaust gas just discharged from the fuel cell stack 12 has a temperature of about 500 to 700 c, and this temperature decreases as the exhaust gas passes through the pretreatment material and becomes about 200 c at the combustion catalyst. In this case, in the case of adopting the above-described configuration, since the width of the first exhaust flow passage portion 510 is higher on the high temperature side and lower on the low temperature side, the fuel cell module 100 can perform heat exchange more effectively.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the first exhaust flow passage portion 510 includes an extension portion 590, which extension portion 590 branches near the exhaust port 550 where the exhaust gas is discharged from the fuel cell module 100, and extends toward near the oxidant gas introduction portion 560. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can expand the heat exchange area for heat exchange between the oxidant gas in the oxidant gas introduction portion 560 and the extension portion 590. Therefore, the fuel cell module 100 can improve the heat exchange efficiency of the oxidant gas.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the oxidant gas flow passage portion 180 overlaps with the extension portion 590 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate 110. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can further expand the heat exchange area for heat exchange between the oxidant gas in the oxidant gas flow passage and the extension 590 via the separator 520. Therefore, the fuel cell module 100 can further improve the heat exchange efficiency of the oxidizer gas.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the entire area of the first exhaust gas flow channel portion 510 overlaps with a part of the oxidant gas flow channel portion 180 when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the separator 520. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can bring all flow channels of the exhaust gas into contact with the separator 520 for heating the oxidizer gas.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the oxidant gas introduction port 580 is located on the first direction side away from the discharge port 550. With this configuration, when a pipe to be connected to a heat exchanger to be provided on the opposite side of the first direction of the fuel cell module 100 is connected to the discharge port 550, the fuel cell module 100 can avoid interference with the pipe connected to the oxidant gas introduction port 580.
In the fuel cell module 100 of the second embodiment, the separator 520 has the cutout 620 at least partially in the region other than the region where it overlaps with the first exhaust gas flow passage 140 and the oxidant gas flow passage, when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the separator 520. With this configuration, the fuel cell module 100 can suppress heat conduction in the separator 520 and avoid overheating of the separator 520. Accordingly, the fuel cell module 100 can alleviate stress generated due to thermal deformation of the separator 520. By providing the cutouts 620 inside the U-shaped first groove portion 530 and the second groove portion 600, it is possible to avoid a situation where the heat of the high-temperature exhaust gas just entered the first exhaust gas flow passage 140 is radiated to the low-temperature oxidizer gas just entered the oxidizer gas introduction port 580 to reduce the heat exchange efficiency.
Although the embodiments according to the present disclosure have been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that various changes and modifications can be easily made by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be noted that such changes and modifications are included within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions and the like included in each component, each step and the like may be rearranged in the case of logical inconsistency, and a plurality of components, steps and the like may be combined into one or split. Although embodiments according to the present disclosure have been described with emphasis on apparatuses, embodiments according to the present disclosure may also be implemented as a method including steps performed by each component of the apparatus. Embodiments according to the present disclosure may also be implemented as a method and a program executed by a processor included in a device, or a storage medium having a program recorded thereon. It should be understood that the scope of the present disclosure also includes such matters.
For example, in the first embodiment, the flange portion 41 of the exhaust gas passage plate 38 on the traveling direction side is used as the lid portion, but the hole-shaped heat insulating portion 25 may be covered with a lid portion separate from the exhaust gas passage plate 38.
In addition, in the second embodiment, the structure of the oxidant gas supply plate 110 is not limited to the above-described structure, but may have, for example, a fourth protruding portion 660 protruding on the fuel cell stack 12 side within the fuel cell module 100, as shown in fig. 26.
Descriptions such as "first", "second" in this disclosure are identifiers for distinguishing corresponding configurations. Configurations differentiated by descriptions such as "first", "second" in this disclosure may be interchanged with numerals in the corresponding configurations. For example, a first camera may exchange "first" and "second" as identifiers with a second camera. The exchange of identifiers takes place simultaneously. The corresponding configuration can be distinguished even after the identifiers are exchanged. The identifier may be deleted. The configuration in which the identifier is deleted is distinguished by a reference numeral. Based on the description of identifiers such as "first", "second" in the present disclosure, it cannot be used as a basis for explaining the order of the corresponding configurations and the existence of identifiers having smaller numbers.
Reference numerals
10. 100 fuel cell module
11. 110 oxidant gas supply plate
12. Fuel cell stack
13. 130 opposite walls
14. 140 first exhaust flow passage
15. Reformer with a heat exchanger
16. Vaporizer (ZA)
17. 170 second heat insulating material
18. 180 oxidant gas flow passage portion
19. Outer casing
20. 200 first plate portion
21. 210 second plate portion
22. 220 supply plate inlet
23. 230 supply plate outlet
24. Isolation part
25. Insulation part
26. A first protruding part
27. A second protruding part
28. 280 flow regulating part
281. A first flow rate adjusting section
282 second flow regulating portion
29 grooves
30 second part
31 inlet of oxidant gas flow passage section
32 third part
33 fourth part
34. 340 third heat insulating material
35. 350 third projection
36 extension portion
37 manifold
38 exhaust gas passage plate
39 plate portion
40 side wall portion
41 flange portion
42 discharge hole
43 second groove
44 exhaust treatment chamber
45 communicating hole
46 third groove
47 guide portion
48 first part
490 exhaust gas leading-out portion
500 communicating pipe
510 first exhaust flow channel portion
520 separator
530 first groove portion
540 communicating hole
550 discharge outlet
560 oxidant gas introduction section
570 first through hole
580 oxidant gas inlet
590 extension part
600 second groove portion
610 second through hole
620 cut
630 raised portion
640 concave portion
650 support portion
660 fourth projection
670 discharge portion
IS interior space.
Claims (20)
1. A fuel cell module, comprising:
a fuel cell stack;
an oxidant gas supply plate having an inner space for flowing an oxidant supplied to the fuel cell stack, and a main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate facing the fuel cell stack;
A first exhaust flow passage through which exhaust discharged from the fuel cell stack flows; and
a first thermal insulating material and a second thermal insulating material,
wherein the fuel cell stack, the oxidant gas supply plate, and the first exhaust gas flow passage are located in this order in a normal direction to a main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate, and
in the normal direction, the first thermal insulation material is adjacent to the first exhaust gas flow passage, and the second thermal insulation material is located outside the first thermal insulation material.
2. The fuel cell module of claim 1, further comprising:
an oxidant gas flow passage portion that is located outside the first exhaust gas flow passage in a normal direction of a main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate, and is connected to the oxidant gas supply plate.
3. The fuel cell module of claim 2, wherein the second insulating material and the first insulating material together surround the oxidant gas flow passage portion.
4. The fuel cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein,
the oxidant gas supply plate has a first plate portion and a second plate portion positioned opposite each other,
The first plate portion has a supply plate inlet,
the second plate portion has a supply plate outlet, and
the supply plate inlet is provided near the center of the fuel cell stack in the stacking direction.
5. The fuel cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein,
the second heat insulating material is formed with a groove for burying the oxidant gas flow passage portion, and
the grooves and the outer peripheral surfaces of the oxidant gas flow passage portions define a second exhaust gas flow passage that is connected to the first exhaust gas flow passage.
6. The fuel cell module of claim 5, further comprising:
an exhaust gas treatment chamber connected to the second exhaust gas flow passage and having a combustion catalyst that burns exhaust gas having passed through the second exhaust gas flow passage,
wherein the oxidant gas flow passage portion has a first portion overlapping the exhaust gas treatment chamber when viewed from a normal direction of a main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate.
7. The fuel cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first heat insulating material is located outside the first exhaust flow passage in a normal direction to a main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate.
8. The fuel cell module according to claim 4, wherein the supply plate inlet is provided in a portion of the first plate portion opposite to an end of the fuel cell stack on the first direction side.
9. The fuel cell module of claim 8, wherein the first insulating material is located between the oxidant gas supply plate and the first exhaust gas flow channel in a direction normal to a major surface of the oxidant gas supply plate.
10. The fuel cell module according to claim 9, wherein exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack can flow into the first exhaust gas flow passage through a flow passage defined by an exhaust gas lead-out portion formed in the first insulating material and a communicating pipe that communicates the supply plate inlet and the oxidant gas flow passage portion.
11. The fuel cell module of claim 10, wherein,
the first heat insulating material is disposed in contact with the first exhaust flow channel portion defining the first exhaust flow channel and the oxidant gas supply plate, and
the exhaust gas leading-out portion is a cutout portion obtained by cutting out a portion of the first insulating material.
12. The fuel cell module according to claim 11, wherein the communicating tube is offset from a center of the exhaust gas lead-out portion in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and a normal direction of a main surface of the oxidant gas supply plate.
13. The fuel cell module according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein,
a first exhaust gas flow passage portion defining a portion of the first exhaust gas flow passage is joined to one surface of the partition plate, and
the oxidant gas flow passage is defined by joining the oxidant gas flow passage portion to the other surface of the separator such that the oxidant gas flow passage portion overlaps the first exhaust gas flow passage portion when viewed from the normal direction of the main surface of the separator.
14. The fuel cell module of claim 13, wherein,
an oxidant gas introduction portion is disposed on a surface of the separator that engages with the first exhaust gas flow channel portion,
the oxidant gas introduction portion communicates with the oxidant gas flow passage via the through-hole of the separator.
15. The fuel cell module according to claim 13 or 14, wherein, in the portion of the first exhaust flow passage portion extending in the first direction, a width of a portion on a discharge port side from which the exhaust gas is discharged from the fuel cell module is narrower than a width of a portion on an inlet side into which the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell stack flows.
16. The fuel cell module according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the first exhaust flow passage portion includes an extension portion that branches near a discharge port from which the exhaust gas is discharged from the fuel cell module, and extends toward near the oxidant gas introduction portion.
17. The fuel cell module according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein an entire area of the first exhaust flow passage portion overlaps with a part of the oxidant gas flow passage portion when viewed from a normal direction of a main surface of the separator.
18. The fuel cell module according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein an oxidant gas introduction port that introduces the oxidant gas supplied to the fuel cell stack into the fuel cell module via the oxidant gas flow passage is closer to the first direction side than a discharge port that discharges the exhaust gas from the fuel cell module via the first exhaust gas flow passage.
19. The fuel cell module according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein the separator has a cutout at least partially in a region other than a region where the separator overlaps the first exhaust gas flow passage and the oxidant gas flow passage, when viewed from a normal direction of a main surface of the separator.
20. A fuel cell apparatus comprising the fuel cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 19.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2021029224 | 2021-02-25 | ||
| JP2021-029224 | 2021-02-25 | ||
| PCT/JP2022/008091 WO2022181814A1 (en) | 2021-02-25 | 2022-02-25 | Fuel cell module and fuel cell device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN116888781A true CN116888781A (en) | 2023-10-13 |
Family
ID=83049377
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN202280017031.0A Pending CN116888781A (en) | 2021-02-25 | 2022-02-25 | Fuel cell module and fuel cell device |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20240145753A1 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP4300640A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP7298045B2 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN116888781A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2022181814A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP5065367B2 (en) * | 2009-12-15 | 2012-10-31 | トヨタ自動車株式会社 | Fuel cell module |
| JP6092681B2 (en) * | 2013-03-26 | 2017-03-08 | 京セラ株式会社 | Fuel cell device and fuel cell system |
| JP7054382B2 (en) * | 2016-06-20 | 2022-04-13 | 京セラ株式会社 | Manufacturing method of fuel cell module, fuel cell device and fuel cell module |
| US11038191B2 (en) | 2016-06-20 | 2021-06-15 | Kyocera Corporation | Fuel cell module and fuel cell apparatus |
| JP6809884B2 (en) * | 2016-11-30 | 2021-01-06 | 京セラ株式会社 | Fuel cell module and fuel cell device |
-
2022
- 2022-02-25 JP JP2023502569A patent/JP7298045B2/en active Active
- 2022-02-25 CN CN202280017031.0A patent/CN116888781A/en active Pending
- 2022-02-25 EP EP22759848.9A patent/EP4300640A1/en active Pending
- 2022-02-25 WO PCT/JP2022/008091 patent/WO2022181814A1/en active Application Filing
- 2022-02-25 US US18/547,868 patent/US20240145753A1/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2022181814A1 (en) | 2022-09-01 |
| JPWO2022181814A1 (en) | 2022-09-01 |
| EP4300640A1 (en) | 2024-01-03 |
| JP7298045B2 (en) | 2023-06-26 |
| US20240145753A1 (en) | 2024-05-02 |
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